Information is key

Posted on Sun Jun 16th, 2024 @ 5:26am by Captain Taliserra Tigran & Lieutenant JG Binea & Lieutenant Commander Jack Slattery & Lieutenant Anthony Edwards Ph. D & Lieutenant Helena Wells & Lieutenant JG Ash Rowe & Lieutenant JG Summer Wyse & Lieutenant Magnus Volsung & Petty Officer 1st Class Miranda Fry
Edited on on Mon Jul 15th, 2024 @ 2:12pm

3,680 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: A marathon not a sprint
Location: Deck 1- Observation lounge
Timeline: An hour after 'to mazar'

Sat in the observation lounge, Taliserra looked at the clock on the Lcars display, it was only a few minutes to 1300hrs and in a few minutes all her senior officers would be arriving hopefully just as eager as she was to learn about the mystery assignment that they had been tasked with and just what the USS Marathon's role in it was.

Walking into the observation lounge Summer was glad to see Taliserra was alone. “Captain” she offered a smile as she started to walk around to a seat before she paused to look at Tigran. “There’s something important I need to tell you.”

"Counselor how..." Taliserra began to greet Summer before the woman continued talking, her inflection definitely made it sound important. "Then you had best be quick, the other officers will be here shortly.

“I’m not going to drag it out so here goes...” Summer paused as she took a closer seat. “Captain I’m pregnant, around 8 weeks. Tyrus is the father.”

Taliserra blinked several times, she was aware Summer and her now former Xo had been an item but not to that degree. "Does he know?"

“He does now” Summer nodded her head. “We talked earlier.” She looked around knowing other people would soon be arriving. Anyway, you’ve got a briefing to get on with, I just wanted to let you know.” With that she headed for her seat.

A few minutes after Anthony saw Summer go through the Bridge to the Observation lounge, he got up from the centre chair and made his way there. The doors opened automatically, and he entered. "Good Afternoon, Captain!" he gently inclined his head and gave the same greeting to the counsellor.

Ash was hot on Anthony's heels, lifting a hand in greeting to those already there before heading for a seat to perch on. Her curiosity was well and truly burning at this point. It was a long time for the Betazoid to go without knowing what was going on. She wasn't sure how much longer she could go.

Magnus followed as well, looking around for a moment before he looked at Ash with a small smile. Whatever was going on, he was curious. Perhaps even eager to know what was going on.

Next to enter the room for the staff meeting was the Chief Medical Officer. Hope gave a smile and nod to the captain and took her seat about half way down the table.

HG wasn't totally sure why she was going. There were plenty of senior officers, none the less she had gotten a summons. She took up a spot toward the edges.

∘∘∘∘

“Walk with me,” Baka said as she picked up from the table in the mess. She tucked her PADD under her arm and took the final bite of her bread. The time was nearing 1300 and she had a meeting to attend. She tended towards being one of the last arrivals to every meeting, though not because she was perpetually late. Instead, everyone else was always early.

Ensign Baasch juggled his glass of juice at the door of the mess, debating whether to leave the cup or to bring it along. He decided he was not finished with it and tripped over his own feet through the door while following the CEO towards the turbolift. They finished their conversation on the way to the bridge, “...do plants hate math,” Baash asked as the lift door opened onto the bridge.

Baka stopped in the open door, clearly thinking over the question. She shrugged, “I’m not sure, why?”

“It gives them square roots,” Baasch answered. Baka chuckled and let the doors close on him.

She checked the time as she entered the observation room, 1258. As she suspected, the room was already full. She quickly took her seat and set up her PADD to take meeting notes.

Taliserra smiled as Dove came in and took her seat, she looked across the assembled officers. All were here apart from their new second in command.

Doctor Ross entered the room and respectfully took her seat. Giving a few smiles to those who were there.

Jack Slatterly, the new First Officer, entered with a small smile. If he was nervous it didn't show, suppressed under experience and the steady predictability of meetings like this. He took in the faces of those he would be serving with, his new crewmen. He took a seat, debating whether or not he should introduce himself. And then just decided that he might as well. "I'm Commander Jack Slattery. I look forward with serving with you all."

Summer offered a polite nod of her head and a smile. “Summer Wyse, Chief Counsellor, Welcome aboard Commander.”

"See Captain, I said Command would leave us without a replacement first officer for long. Welcome aboard Commander Slattery I am Lieutenant Anthony Edwards Chief Science Officer of the USS Wolff

Jack smiled at the words, giving Summer and Edwards a nod. "Nice to meet you," he said, lightly. "I'm sure we will all have time to...get to know each other."

Summer nodded politely in response.

Commander Dario Munro of the USS Marathon had beamed over alone, finding it easier with such a limited amount of crew. Clean shaven with his hair neatly combed he seemed to have the ease of a man who was used to stepping in as needed. Although this was his first command. He was escorted to the observation lounge and walked in, his dark eyes going to the gathering of officers and the petty officer. "Captain Tigran," he said, addressing Taliserra straight away. There was a seriousness to him as he took in her appearance in person, a respect to the rank she carried and the experience she had commanding the Wolff. "Thank you for gathering your officers on such a short notice. I hope to make this brief for us all."

"Commander Munro, glad you are here." Taliserra replied. "We're ready to find out just what we've been called here for and where your ship comes into it."

Munro gave her a small nod, a smile on his lips. He looked at the people gathered, his features becoming serious. Serious and professional, all traces of warmth dropped as simply as removing a hat. He stood before them and spoke in a clear voice. Facts. Just facts. "For you, it's a simple escort mission. The Marathon has a skeleton crew, no real weaponry and our shields are..." he gave a small shake of his head. "Less than ideal. It's about as strong a baby animal being let out in the woods, which is why we need the Wolff to escort us to the shipyards at Dakala."

"We are well within the Federation border Commander," Taliserra remarked. "Even unarmed ships come and go quite freely in this region of space."

"Unarmed ships yes," he met her eyes, holding them for a long moment. Then a small smile came to him and his entire demeanour softened, whatever practiced briefing he had in his head pushed away. Instead there was a genuine sincerity. "The Marathon is an experimental vessel, half-finished. We rely on the Wolff to offer technical assistance, possibly even personnel if we find our crew of ten, myself included, is not enough to keep the warp core going for the journey. So...we are reliant on you to take us to Dakala."

Anthony, the typical scientist, could understand that and as such knew the only way he would get answers was to ask a question and develop a theory. "Excuse me for interrupting Captain, Commander, but Dakala seems a strange place for an experimental ship to be going to, if my memory serves correct, it is a hunting ground of an ice planet with no natural humanoid life signs on every planetary scan since the first one made by the USS Enterprise NX01 in 2151."

"That was a long time ago Lieutenant." Binea remarked. "There has been a shipyard there for nearly 20 years, they started building not long before the Dominion war ended."

"Thank you for your input Lieutenant Binea, I had forgotten about the shipyard." Anthony said only slightly red-faced by the reminder.

Summer looked between both Tigran and Munro. “Is there any reason to believe that there are any risks, or dangers involved in this escort?”

Munro gave it the thought it deserved and was silent for several seconds. "There is a small risk that something will go wrong with the ship, be it a fault in construction or a person doing something they're not meant to. But it is small," he said as he met Summer's eyes. "We just need a hand, that is all."

HG raised a hand. "Pardon, but something is not adding up here. This ship is going to a shipyard and we are tasked with basically a babysit. What is so special about that vessel that requires a ship like this as an escort?"

Munro looked at HG, studying her closely. "Because the Marathon has been built as a transwarp prototype ship," he said before he looked at Taliserra. "Hence the...secrecy."

Anthony nodded as he said, "That would also explain the Marathon having nacelles too large for the ship too if it was going to be a transwarp experiment!"

Summer nodded. “The downside being is that it’s something everyone would want to get their hands on, especially if the technology works.”

Munro nodded, watching them before he gave them a small smile. "We are hopeful the technology will work," he said, because that was true. "Time will tell, I suppose."

"I take it, seeing as you need an escort to Dakala, that the ship isn't actually capable of transwarp yet?" Taliserra asked, though she believed she already knew the answer to that.

"You're correct," Munro met her eyes, holding them. "It was considered better to build the ship, then take it to Dakala and finish it. So the ship can at this moment stretch to warp 6. Max."

HG had to smile at Lieutenant Wyse's comment and thought, "Oh, if they only knew." She glanced over at Rowe for a second, wondering if the pilot remembered their little experiment that took them to the Andromeda galaxy.

HG didn't raise her hand but went ahead and talked, "So what matrix are you using? Even dilithium becomes unstable, including the special form, after prolonged use. The same with titanium, and have you considered or overcome the problems with DNA mutation? Have you considered other methods of exceeding limitations?"

Munro looked at her before he frowned, shaking his head. "I don't have the answers to that. I suggest talking to the scientist we have, or Engineers. Even then, all your answers would most likely be found at Dakala, not here."

"It's also not relevant for our mission," Commander Slattery said, although he had to admire how Wells had focused in on those aspects of it. The things that truly mattered, the life and death stuff. He studied Commander Munro, deciding that he most likely didn't come from a science background. No. He smelled like Security.

Taliserra looked to her helmswoman. "Ash, estimated travel time between here and Dakala at warp 5? with a few bursts of warp 6 if the Marathon can take it?"

Ash hadn't been able to help but glance to HG, her mind also going to their excursion at the direction the conversation had taken. She cleared her throat, forcing her mind back to the present, taking a moment or two to think on the question, her gaze unconsciously lifting upwards with it. "I'd say 12 days if being cautious to manage expectations...but we could maybe push to 11 or even 10..."

"I would prefer not to push too much," Commander Munro said as he looked at them, a slight frown coming to him. As good as arrival a few days earlier sounded, he did not wish to test the ship too much.

"I concur with Commander Munro Captain, firstly it is uncertain as to being able to hold the warp bubble and aside from that, I understand we are well inside federation borders but nothing ever goes perfectly to plan. How often have we survived because of plan d or e rather than a?" Lieutenant Edwards spoke up.

Ash gave an easy nod to them before looking to Taliserra with a slight half-smile, her arms folding firmly across her middle. "Then 12 days it is."

Taliserra tapped out several notes onto a Padd as the other officers talked. "How long will it take before the Marathon is capable of getting underway?"

"A few hours," Munro said as he met her eyes, giving her a nod. "Three max. I got a final drill set up and then we should be ready. Could cut the time in half if we have some of your engineers."

"If possible, I would like access to the weapon spec and stock of weaponry of the Marathon," Volsung said, having listened to the conversations. His eyes went to Munro and then to Taliserra. "We may be in Federation space, but it sounds to me like we are escorting an important prototype. I'd ideally like to run some scenarios in case of...unexpected issues. Security protocols, any additional protection, that sort." So that they knew what they had to work with in worst case scenario.

"I can transfer those over to you, although you'll be disappointed," Munro said as he met the eyes of the Chief Security Officer. "No torpedoes, standard phaser array. Inside the ship we have some type 2 phasers, although only one Security Officer at the moment...Ensign Carter."

"I'd like to go over the specs with the Ensign then," Magnus said as he gave him a small nod, taking the information onboard.

"Would it be beneficial to have a security detachment from the Wolff assigned to you for the duration of this voyage? if there are sufficient quarters to house them." Taliserra asked. "The Marathon may be small but it's still a lot for only a single person to monitor."

"I would appreciate it, Captain," Munro said as he gave her a nod, a small smile of appreciation coming to his features. "I was suspecting I was going to share the duty to monitor, but better to have people whose focus isn't pulled away on the bigger picture."

"Magnus will you take care of that. One team should be enough." Taliserra instructed.

"Yes, Captain," he said, already knowing exactly who he would send over. He had a good department with good people, it would do them good to get stuck in on the Marathon, even if it was just for 12 days.

HG raised her hand. "Yes. I sure would like to take a look at what you have. I have a, shall we say, certain expertise in the area."

Munro's eyes went to Taliserra, with some surprise at the science officer's blunt claim. He didn't know her, but her Captain would. "If your Captain thinks it is a good idea, then who I am to stand in your way," he said lightly. "Although we are mostly carrying Engineers, not scientists." His eyes went to HG and he gave a small smile to soften the words and their meaning.

Anthony smiled and nodded as he spoke to alleviate the fears of Commander Munro, "Excuse me Commander let me set your mind at ease, when HG says she has expertise in the area, she means it, and she is the best-qualified scientist here for the job, and most likely one that could help keep your engines and the warp field stable while she was at it. I expect she would wear a yellow uniform as an engineer if she weren't a theorist."

Far be it for Baka to step on an expert’s toes, she hit the delete button over the shared schedule she had started to prepare. With the Chief Scientist vouching for HG’s knowledge in the area, it felt clear her team was not needed. That was fine, she had plenty of other projects they could work on.

Summer looked towards Munro. “Commander do you have any medical staff aboard the Marathon in case of emergencies?”

"We have one doctor," he said as he looked at Summer, then back at Anthony. He appreciated his words, but wanted the Captain's opinion. Also due to the classified nature of the work and the ship. But as a Commander, not a Captain, and standing on a ship he did not command, he found himself unsure what was the right option.

"Lt Wells is a great scientist and could be of good use to you but you will have Lt Baka and her engineering staff to provide assistance wherever and whenever you may need it Commander." Taliserra said, she really didn't intend to shut HG down entirely but her engineering department was more suited to the task of helping with any technical difficulties along the way.

At the mention of her name for the first time, Baka looked up from her PADD. "Do you have need of extra engineering crew on your ship? I wouldn't want my team to be underfoot if your officers have everything handled."

"We will need the extra," Munro said as he met Baka's eyes. "Even if it is just two extra bodies. People need to sleep too and to say we're skeletal is not an understatement. So if you can spare anyone, Lieutenant Baka, it would be appreciated."

"Then I will have crew available to you," Baka said.

"Thank you," Munro's eyes went to Baka's rank insignia before he met her eyes. "Lieutenant. I promise you we will treat them well."

"We'll have words if they're not," the chief answered.

"If there is nothing else we'll let you get back to the Marathon Commander." Taliserra said and put the Padd she had been taking notes on down on the table. "I'm sure you have a lot to do before we're ready to leave."

"Yes, thank you," Munro said and met her eyes. "I will let you know as soon as we are ready, Captain Tigran, and look forward to receive the personnel available to assist us."

"Miranda will you show Commander Munro back to the transporter room." Taliserra said turning to look at her Yeoman.

"Aye Sir." Miranda stood from where she sat taking her own notes. "This way please Commander." She headed for the door and lead Dario out of the briefing room.

After the door closed behind the two Taliserra looked at her assembled officers, she was curious if there was anything they wanted to say but didn't want to say it in front of the Commander. "Any questions?"

Lieutenant Commander Slatterly sat back in his seat, looking at his new Captain before he let out a breath. "I'm not an engineer, but when did we start sending out half finished ships to fly to another shipyard...should we be worried it'll go critical?" he looked over at the Chief Engineer.

"From the scans we took it does look complete." Binea replied. "Just missing its transwarp components."

Baka offered her own explanation, "Research and Development is a specialized department. They aren't going to -can't- build a ship from scratch. It's reasonable to move the skeletal ship to the facility where the researchers are in order to complete an install."

"That's good...I wasn't sure," Jack said and nodded to Baka and Binea. Because he had been used to flying ships, not worrying about where and how they got built.

"If there is nothing else then you're all dismissed." Taliserra told her senior staff. "Commander will you stay for a few moments."

Jack looked at her before he gave her a small nod. "Of course, Captain," he said, remaining seated.

Anthony got up and quickly offered Commander Munro his hand to shake and said "Good luck with testing that Bird, Commander."

There hadn't been much Hope needed to say for this meeting so she kept quite and when it was time to leave she offered a polite smile to those around the table and her superiors and made her exit.

Getting up from her seat Summer offered a polite smile before she followed Hope out of the meeting room.

"Don't worry, I won't leave them behind in our wake..." Ash assured with a playful lilt to her voice as she made her way out.

Magnus followed as well, with a small smile to the Captain before he left.

Standing and slipping the Padd she took notes on into her pocket Binea stood and headed out the door back in the direction of the bridge

After the last of the officers filed out of the room Taliserra turned to her new Xo. "Commander, will you join me for dinner this evening? after we've departed."

Jack looked at her with surprise clear on his features before he smiled. "Yes, I would love to, Captain," he said, not having expected it from the Captain. It had been all business since his feet had hit the deck of the Wolff, he had assumed that was...standard.

"Excellent, we have much to discuss." Taliserra said glad that Jack had accepted. "1800hrs.... my quarters." She hesitated slightly on those last words wondering what her mother would think about inviting men she'd just met to her quarters.

"Yes Captain," He said and gave her a small nod. If he thought it was something odd about it, he did not show it. "I look forward to it."

Taliserra smiled "Then you're dismissed Commander."

OFF:


Captain Taliserra Tigran
Commanding Officer

Lt Anthony Edwards
Chief Science Officer

Lt. Hope Ross, MD
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant jg Summer Wyse
Chief Counsellor

Lieutenant JG Ash Rowe
Chief Flight Control Officer

Lieutenant Dovenice Baka
Chief Engineer

Lieutenant Magnus Volsung
Acting Chief Sec/Tac
[Pnpc Jack]

Lieutenant Binea
Operations Officer
[Pnpc Taliserra]

Po3 Miranda Fry
Captains yeoman
[pnpc Taliserra]

Lt. HG Wells
Scientist

Lt. Commander Jack Slattery
First Officer

 

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